Support our Troops?

Today I was awakened, like every other day, by my local NPR station. As a usual part of my morning routine I lay groggily in bed for a half hour or so listening. I often have strange recollections of segments and stories that I heard early in the morning throughout the day. These memories remain couched in my unconscious until I see or hear something that triggers a particular memory.

Today was no different. I watched a soccer mom in a minivan swerving through traffic. As I watched her speed by I noticed that she had a yellow “support our troops” magnet fashioned ever so carefully next to a sticker of a soccer ball on her otherwise impeccable automobile. I wondered whether or not she really gave a shit about our troops or if she had placed the sticker on her minivan to be trendy. This got me thinking, does anybody really give a shit about our troops or are we merely relieving ourselves of our conscious by simply purchasing a sticker or magnet and affixing it to our car so that we can show everybody that we support the troops?

This reminded me of a segment I had heard that morning, one of a two part series titled “When I Came Home” a documentary which tracks the lives and struggles of several homeless veterans, including those who have recently returned home from the war in Iraq. The segment examined the subsequent factors which led more than 150,000 Vietnam veterans from the battlefield directly to the street, positing the question: will what happened to Vietnam veterans happen to a new generation of soldiers? (www.kjzz.org) How can it be that we are still asking such questions?

For many young Americans joining the military is a path out of poverty. But to those who return to impoverished neighborhoods with such ailments as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder an all too common psychiatric injury of war, can find it especially difficult to recover (www.kjzz.org). A veteran whose name I can’t quite recall noted in the segment that it is great that we recognize the sacrifices of those who died (he specifically mentions The Vietnam Veteran’s Wall Memorial) but is saddened that those who made it home alive are often forgotten, a reference to the vast amount of homeless veterans (he himself was homeless).

No veteran should ever be without a home, food, and clothing. For or against the war, love it or hate it, we can all agree that these people make the ultimate sacrifice for our livelihood yet are disgraced upon their return, forgotten by most like a piece of trash. One hundred and fifty thousand plus homeless Vietnam veterans, America, we should be ashamed of ourselves. This is absurd, simply unacceptable.

We should draft up legislation to honor these folks by giving them a modest house free of charge and granting them with tax exempt status for life. This should include all property and sales tax. They should also be accorded a stipend, comparable to a living wage, so that if they decide to work it will be by their own choosing. Also, free health insurance for life. I would be all for the necessary tax increases to pay for these simply necessities for our veterans for it is the LEAST I/we could do. Instead of purchasing support our troops merchandise, why not support the Department of Veterans Affairs directly? Perhaps some people do, but due to the fact that homelessness and other problems are still rampant among veterans I really doubt most send money but just purchase the magnet and stick it on the ol’ minivan so they appear as good caring little people.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the 25 million veterans currently alive, nearly three of every four served during a war or an official period of hostility (www.va.gov). A unnecessary amount of these people are also homeless. Donating to the VA would be for the good of all our living troops, currently serving and otherwise. Remember, support our troops should refer to those previous and current who have enlisted, served, returned home, and those who have unfortunately perished in the name of the United States of America. Homeless veterans = shameless Americans.